MDAnderson

Today was a long day. We got the hospital at 9, and got back to our home-away-from-home about 4:30.

Good news from today's biopsy - Ken's primary cancer is indeed at the "base of tongue" and these are particularly responsive to both chemo and radiation. The surgeon thinks there is a good chance to make it (and the mass in the parotid gland) go away and avoid additional surgery. Time will tell. She also took a spot off my temple (non-cancerous) and pulled some teeth in the back. The Dental Oncologist said radiation is very, very rough on teeth and that if any were were even close to being bad she should remove them - so she did. The plan now is for the first chemo treatment Monday afternoon, and back home to The Valley on Tuesday.

Another cousin here in Houston is taking such good care of us at her house. It's a big old 1920s-vintage house, where she has lived for over 40 years. And it's about 5 minutes from the Medical Center. It couldn't be more convenient, plus we have all the comfort of real family. We've even gotten to meet three of her children - now grown - that we knew only as very small children before we left Houston in 1962.

And also, the basketball goes on. Texas won tonight, so all the folks here were celebrating. And John and I are pleased that Davidson from our Southern Conference has advanced to the Elite Eight.

The Houston cousin is an Obama delegate from her precinct to the county caucus tomorrow, so she has to be up and out early. Fortunately, the rest of us can sleep in - and that will be ever so nice. And nothing specific to do tomorrow, except for basketball, of course.